2006 BUICK LUCERNE brake light

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will ash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you are about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It
is important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug a
trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not let you know if
one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your
vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure
they are all working. Once you disconnect the trailer
lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one
of your vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you do not shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.On a long uphill grade, shift down to THIRD (3) and
reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here is
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-41

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the
brake uid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the uid level goes back up. The other reason is
that uid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, you
should have your brake system xed, since a leak
means that sooner or later your brakes will not work
well, or will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add uid
when your linings are worn, then you will have too
much uid when you get new brake linings. You should
add or remove brake uid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-40.
What to Add
When you do need brake uid, use only DOT-3 brake
uid. Use new brake uid from a sealed container
only. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-12.
5-40

Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This will help
keep dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in your brake
system, your brakes may not work well, or they
may not even work at all. This could cause a
crash. Always use the proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
system parts. For example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your
brake system can damage brake system parts so
badly that they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake uid on your vehicle. If
you do, wash it off immediately. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-87.
Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come
and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving,
except when you are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes will not work well. That could lead
to an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to GM torque specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
5-41

Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle, and the bad grounding
could damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transaxle in PARK (P) or a manual transaxle in
NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlet(s). Turn off
the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This will
avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And it
could save the radio!
4. Open the hood on the other vehicle and locate the
positive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations on
that vehicle.
You will not see the battery of your vehicle under
the hood. It is located under the rear passenger’s
seat. You will not need to access the battery
for jump starting. The remote positive (+) terminal is
for that purpose. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for location.
5-45

Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire ination pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment is necessary. If
the ination pressure is low, add air until you reach
the recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Re-check the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Check Tire Pressure System
The Check Tire Pressure System is designed to alert
the driver when there is a large change in the air
pressure of one tire. The system learns the air pressure
at each tire throughout the operating speed range of
the vehicle, and compares tire rotational speeds using
the Anti-lock Brake System’s wheel speed sensors.
The Check Tire Pressure System will not alert you
before you drive the vehicle that a tire is low or at. You
must begin driving the vehicle before the system will
work properly.The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE warning message, on
the Driver Information Center (DIC), and the tire
pressure warning light, on the instrument panel cluster,
will come on if the system detects a pressure
difference in one of the four tires installed on the
vehicle. For additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays seeDIC Controls and
Displays on page 3-50. An example of the tire pressure
warning light is shown underTire Pressure Light on
page 3-44.
The Check Tire Pressure System may not warn you of
a tire pressure condition if:
More than one tire is low.
The vehicle is moving faster than
65 mph (105 km/h).
The system is not yet calibrated.
The tire treadwear is uneven.
The compact spare tire is installed.
Tire chains are being used.
The vehicle is being driven on a rough or
frozen road.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on,
the check tire pressure system may not be working
properly. See your dealer for service. Also, see
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 3-41.
5-63

Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this may
affect the way your vehicle performs, including its
braking, ride and handling characteristics, stability and
resistance to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle
has electronic systems such as, anti-lock brakes,
traction control, and electronic stability control, the
performance of these systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your vehicle
may not provide an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are selected.
You may increase the chance that you will
crash and suffer serious injury. Only use GM
specic wheel and tire systems developed for
your vehicle, and have them properly installed
by a GM certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-66andAccessories
and Modications on page 5-3for additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which grades
tires by treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance. This applies only to vehicles sold in the
United States. The grades are molded on the sidewalls
of most passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG) system does not apply to deep
tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver, or temporary
use spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
5-68

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-21
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-68
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-93
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-19
Air Conditioning......................................3-23, 3-26
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-37
Readiness Light..........................................3-36
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)......... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-52
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-68
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-61
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-63
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-67
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-61
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?........1-62
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-59
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-55
Antenna, Backglass.......................................3-101
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna System........................................3-101Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-41
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-88
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-86
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-90
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-87
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-83
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-84
Finish Care.................................................5-87
Finish Damage............................................5-89
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-86
Leather......................................................5-85
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-89
Tires..........................................................5-89
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-90
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-91
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-87
Weatherstrips..............................................5-86
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-88
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-22
Audio System(s).............................................3-74
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-99
Backglass Antenna.....................................3-101
Care of Your CD Player..............................3-101
Care of Your CDs ......................................3-100
1

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Navigation/Radio System,
see Navigation Manual..............................3-98
Radio with CD....................................3-77, 3-82
Setting the Time..................................3-75, 3-76
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-98
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-100
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-101
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-25
B
Backglass Antenna........................................3-101
Battery..........................................................5-42
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-16
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-18
Load Management.......................................3-18
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-21
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Panic Assist................................................4-10
Parking......................................................2-28
System Warning Light..................................3-40
Brakes..........................................................5-40Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-21
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-52
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-55
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps.......................5-54
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps...................................5-52
Buying New Tires...........................................5-66
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-3
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-101
Carbon Monoxide...................2-14, 2-31, 4-24, 4-36
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-86
Your CD Player.........................................3-101
Your CDs .................................................3-100
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-45
Center Flex Storage Unit.................................2-45
Center Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts....1-24
Center Seat...................................................1-10
2